James Newman, astronaut. Currently a professor of space systems at the Naval Post Graduate School. Logged 43 days in space including 6 space walks totaling 43 hours.

What a great idea Cindy and Jim McGillen had 10 years ago to create a venue for great minds to come together and share their intriguing ideas. Twenty-seven plus nationally renowned authors and innovators gathered in Pebble Beach this weekend to share their knowledge and great ideas with the participants. The attendees were generous sponsors of the festival, paying guests, and educators who were invited as guests. I was lucky enough to be one of the volunteers helping with the event so I was able to hear many of the speakers when I wasn’t on duty..

Secretary Leon Panetta

Secretary Leon Panetta kicked off the festival with a thought provoking speech on Friday night. Prior to serving as the 23rd Secretary of Defense, Panetta (a local Carmel Valley resident) served as the Director of the CIA, White House Chief of Staff, Director of OMB, and before that a Congressman in the House of Representatives from 1977-1993. The amphitheater was packed with an enthusiastic audience.

Thousands of school children of Monterey County participated in the Student Ideas Festival thanks to the Carmel Ideas Foundation. Some students were also given the honor to be student presenters introducing each speaker as they came onto the stage. What an opportunity for students to have such an amazing experience!

Amphitheater at Stevenson School~ John Hennessy speaking.

Presentations took place in several different venues. Speaking here in the outdoor amphitheater is John Hennessy. After a 16 year term as president of Stanford University he is being hailed as transformational after remaking the university from the inside out.

John Hennessy

He is now the founding director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars program designed to lure the best students in the world for graduate education at Stanford with the goal of “doing good for the world”.

Cara Hale Alter founder of SpeechSkills ~ author of The Credibility Code:How to Project Confidence and Competence When It Matters Most

The other venues included a large auditorium and small break out sessions in classrooms.

Cara Hale Alter

Cara Hale Alter was a popular speaker who has provided training to the world’s leading companies and top-100 law firms. She teaches how to project confidence and competence. Don’t miss buying her book on the subject complete with video demonstrations! Just as an aside story about Cara, she and I both recognized each other when she checked in at the registration desk, but couldn’t figure out how we knew each other. We finally figured out she had been my Jazz Dance instructor 25+ years ago in San Francisco!

The Credibility Code by Cara Hale Alter

Dr. Bernie Roth was very interesting and a kick to listen to. He is a Stanford professor who is the Rodney H. Adams Professor of Engineering and is also a co-founder of Stanford’s “d-school” which teaches “design thinking”. Early this year I completed Stanford University’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certification program which included a day at Stanford learning all about design thinking so I was very interested in what he had to say.

Dr. Bernard Roth in his break out session.Dr. Bernard Roth, a Stanford University professor.

His book, The Achievement Habit is a “Don’t Miss” read.

The Achievement Habit by Bernard Roth

The authors all had book signings in the bookstore and there were long lines of people clutching their books in hand for a personal moment with the authors to get a personalized autograph.

The amazing array of authors is just too long to include in a short blog entry. There was Dan Buettner who discovered the Blue Zones where there is the highest concentration of centenarians; Kathlyn Cooney, an archaeologist who has researched ancient Egypt; Professor Andrew Fraknoi, who makes astronomy a joy to learn about, and Mas Matsumoto, an organic peach and grape farmer who had written about the family succession on a family farm.

Mas Masumoto, an organic peach and grape farmer with a story.

There were so many more stunning presentations with great ideas flowing that there isn’t room to talk about them all. Just make a note in your calendar to come next year last weekend in September to the

The Carmel Chamber welcomed Zantman Art Galleries into their new location on San Carlos between Ocean and 7th (next to Wells Fargo Bank). Their best selling artist, Pietro Piccolli, flew into town from Rome to attend the festive affair. As an ambassador for the Carmel Chamber I had great fun taking pictures and chatting with the artist and other art lovers who attended the soiree.

Painting by Pietro Piccoli

Pietro Piccoli’s paintings are alive with color and light. “To Piccoli, the light is the most important element in each of his works”. Come by the Zantman Art Galleries to see them for yourself – if there are any left. Many Piccoli aficionados were purchasing his paintings at the opening.

Carmel Chamber congratulates the Zantman Art Gallery on their new location on San Carlos between Ocean & 7th.

Art enthusiasts arrived at the gallery to admire Piccoli’s new paintings. The high ceilings and natural light of the new location are perfect to display the array of fantastic paintings.

Art lovers arrived at the celebration.

Attendees enjoyed wonderful food, wine, and music which all combined to make a fabulous evening.

Painting by Pietro PiccoliBill and Kimberly Yant

Our gracious hosts, Bill and Kimberly Yant, owners of the Zantman Art Galleries, greeted the guests as they entered the party.

Painting by Pietro Piccoli

Pietro’s painting were of a number of different subjects . . . boats, landscapes, and even a number of flowers. Not sure which was my favorite. I loved them all!

Kimberly Yant, one of the owners of the gallery, chats with Pietro through his lovely interpreter who translated his Italian to English.

Painting by Pietro Piccoli

Another boating scene to be viewed accompanied by the wonderful music being played.

Musician providing delightful music for viewing paintings.Gallery has high ceilings perfect for hanging art.Pietro’s interpreter, Pietro Piccoli, painter, and Monta Potter, President and CEO of Carmel Chamber

Monta Potter, President and CEO of the Carmel Chamber and Lee Larrew, Director of Operations, orchestrated the Ribbon Cutting. Here come those giant scissors, “Yes”, now official!

Cutting the ribbon! Another successful ribbon cutting for the Carmel Chamber.